“A DIFFICULT YEAR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1938, Page 7

“A DIFFICULT YEAR”

ACTIVITIES OF WAIRARAPA AERO CLUB PROBLEM OF PILOT-iNSTRUCTOR. LOSS ON YEAR'S WORKING. The difficulties confronting the club as the result of its inability to secure the services of a pilot-instructor were stressed by the president, Mr A. McDonald, at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club last night. Mr McDonald also referred to the need for increasing the revenue of the club and said he hoped that applications to local .bodies for financial assistance would meet with a generous response. There was a good attendance of members present.

Speaking to the annual report, previously published, Mr McDonald said that after making full provision for depreciation, repairs and replacements, the loss for the year amounted to £92 4s Bd, which in view of the crashes during the year must be considered very satisfactory. Efforts to increase the revenue, however, must not be relaxed. For two months of the current year at least the club would show a substantial loss due to the small number of flying hours recorded and to the fact that they had no pilot-instructor. The purchase of the Miles Whitney Straight had increased the liabilities of the club by £1,600. It had been considered advisable to fully insure two of the machines. The annual premiums amounted to £350 but in view of the crash experience during the past year the expenditure was ' amply justified to protect the- club against further crashes.

“If we had no insurance cover,” observed Mr McDonald, “a major crash would put us out all together. The club is not in the position to take that risk.”

After referring the the new Whitney Straight, which, he said, was greatly appreciated by pilots and passengers, Mr McDonald pointed out that the club was experiencing some difficulty in obtaining applications for this years civil reserve quota, and he appealed to members to do the best they could to assist the club in the matter. The committee had appointed Mr J. V. A. Reid as a temporary pilot-instructor. Mr Reid was not anxious to take on the job but he had gone out of his way to help the club out of its difficulty and they were deeply indebted to him. i ' Mr P. F. Fagan said, it had been a very difficult year for the club. While revenue had come in fairly well costs had increased considerably. Members, however, had pulled in together and had shown a spirit which he hoped' would continue in the future. Members would agree, he felt, that the policy of insuring the planes was a sound business proposition. The reserve funds might look big but he considered it a very wise policy to put money aside for the replacement of the club’s machines. Both ZKACD an ZKABE had just about obtained thenmajority. After referring with pleasure to the good work done by Mr Reid as temporary pilot-instructor, Mr Fagan said there did not seem to be any possibility of securing a permanent pilot" instructor for some time to come. The Government’s defence scheme appeared to be absorbing most of the young pilots at the present time. Mr J H. Irving suggested that the co-operation of the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association might be sought in assisting the club to obtain its quota of trainees for the civil reserve. Mr McDonald said the committee had done its best to secure the desired number of trainees. The medical test however, was very severe, only about one candidate in five passing. It was going to be a very serious thing fol the club if it did not get its quota of nine trainees. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Patron, Mi J. - Buchanan: president, Mr A. McDonald; Vice-presidents, Dr J. A. Cowie, Messrs E A Heyder and P. F. Fagan; club captain, Mr D. P. Kennedy: social committee, Misses J. Betts. J. Hosking. A. Beetham. P. Jordan. Messrs A. Wardell. K. Cameron. R. Cunningham, N. W Beetham', committee. Messrs E. F. Barton, A. W. Buchanan. H. J. W. Lord, W A. Wardell, N. G. Whiteman, A. C. Tatton; auditors, Messrs Low and Cunningham. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the services rendered to the club by Mr R. McKenzie, a retiring vice-president, and Mr A. R. Claridge, a retiring member of the committee. „ “They are a great asset to the club, observed Mr McDonald when expressing appreciation of the splendid work of the social committee. Tributes were paid by several members to the valuable work performed by Mr McDonald in the interests of the club. In thanking members for their co-operation during the year. Mi McDonald urged that all members should put their shoulders to the wheel during the coming year and said that it was team-work and not individual effort that counted. Votes of thanks were passed to the aerodrome staff and the secretaries, Messrs Dunderdale and Gray.